Reducing Incentives for Abuse: Canada's inland refugee system

The growing interdependence in the world and the increasing number of refugees has made public policy in this area one of the key challenges facing nations today. A number of countries have introduced policies aimed at deterring non-genuine refugee claims. Canada is lagging behind in developing solutions to its growing refugee problems, namely large backlogs and growing number of applications. This study identifies the challenges of Canada’s current inland refugee system to recommend policy options to reduce incentives for abuse by non-genuine claimants. Using a comparative case study analysis of Australia, the UK, and Sweden, it provides policy recommendations on how these can be addressed. The analysis shows that streamlining procedures, having one agency responsible for claim processing, and the provision of social benefits being tied to a claimant’s compliance with claim processing lead to an efficient refugee determination system. The policy options proposed focus on these policies as they have been successful in other countries but are missing in Canada. Designating all refugee claim-processing matters to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is presented as the best of the three policy alternatives.